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Introduction to Boulder, Colorado
The Colorado city of Boulder is the county seat of Boulder County and also the county's largest city. Perched at an elevation of 5,400 feet above sea-level, the city is located 30 miles northwest of the Colorado state capital of Denver. Boulder is home to the main campus of the University of Colorado, the state's largest university.
Until the late 1850's, the Boulder Valley was inhabited by Indians, primarily the Southern Arapaho tribe. The first known non-native settlers in the area were gold prospectors who arrived in 1858, when Boulder was still part of the Nebraska Territory. In 1861, the Territory of Colorado was created by the U.S. Congress and in 1871 Boulder (then known as Boulder City) was incorporated as a city. Five years later the University of Colorado at Boulder opened and in that same year (1876) Colorado achieved its statehood. Through the early part of the 20th century, mining and tourism were two of the city's principal industries. Later years saw a different kind of industry with the arrival of the National Bureau of Standards (which today is the National Institute of Standards and Technology, home of the atomic clock) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. In 1996, the city received notoriety as the locale of the still unsolved mystery of the killing of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey.
Boulder is often cited as one of the nation's most desirable places to live. The city's natural beauty, abundant recreational options, and lively cultural atmosphere are just a few reasons why. In the year 2006 alone, Boulder received accolades from over 20 national publications for being among the top cities in various categories. Some examples:
Things to do in Boulder
The city of Boulder is replete with activities and attractions of all kinds: indoor, outdoor, recreational, festive, cultural, you name it. With the possible exception of surfers, outdoor recreation lovers will always find something to do here. To begin with, the city is surrounded by more than 31,000 acres of recreational open space and nature preserves, providing abundant opportunities for biking, hiking and rock climbing. Over 120 miles of trails vary in size and difficulty, from the simple to the technically challenging. The Boulder Creek Path is a 16-mile trail perfect for walking, biking, or in-line skating. World-class rock climbing can be found in nearby Eldorado Canyon, six miles south of Boulder. Only an hour away is Estes Park, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Two of Boulder's annual events focus on outdoor recreation. the "Bolder Boulder" is a 10K road race held every on Memorial Day which draws up to 50,000 runners, joggers, walkers, and wheelchair racers. "Kinetics" is an annual race across land and water by human-powered vehicles, held every year to mark the beginning of spring. Another yearly event (held on Memorial Day in conjunction with Bolder Boulder) is the Boulder Creek Fest, which features art, music, food, and local dance troupes.
Arts and culture are not lacking in Boulder either. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is held every summer at the outdoor Mary Rippon Theater on the University of Colorado campus. Also on the University campus is the Colorado MahlerFest, an annual celebration honoring Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, held every January. On Thursday nights in the summer, "Bands on the Bricks" features street musicians performing a wide variety of musical styles. One of the top comprehensive university museums of natural history in the nation is the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. Located on the University campus, the museum contains over four million anthropology, biology, and geology/paleontology research specimens. Exhibits include fossils, animals native to Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, and ancient Southwestern cultures. Other cultural venues in the city include the following:
Other attractions in and around Boulder include the Farmers' Market, open twice weekly April through October in the downtown area; the Gateway Park Fun Center, offering go-karts, mini-golf, and batting cages: and several area wineries.
Spectator sports in Boulder focus on collegiate action, with the University of Colorado Buffaloes located in the city. The Buffaloes play in the NCAA’s Division I (I-A for football) as members of the Big 12 Conference. The football team shared a national championship in 1990, and the University's teams have won national championships in cross country, cycling, triathlon, and skiing. Professional sports can be found in nearby Denver, only a half-hour away. Major league teams that play there include the following:
Boulder strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Colorado):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers) | Top 1% |  |
| College Educated Adults (vs. Peers) | Top 2% | |
| Public Transportation Use (vs. State) | Top 7% | |
| Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State) | Top 7% | |
| Median Family Income (vs. State) | Top 10% | |
| Racial Diversity (vs. State) | Top 13% | |
| Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers) | Top 16% | |
Comparing Boulder to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Colorado (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Male Share of the Population | |  |
| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Well-Paid Single Women |  | |
| Racial Diversity |  | |
| Senior Citizens |  |  |
| Age of the Population | | |
| Female Share of the Population | |  |
| Children Under 5 Years Old | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | | |
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| College Educated Adults | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Short Commute Times | |  |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People Living Alone | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Housing Recently Built |  | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Violent Crime | | |
| Low Property Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Boulder colleges • Boulder travel • Boulder mortgages and property.
 | Boulder Careers Boulder career and employment information. |
 | Boulder Colleges Boulder colleges and trade schools. |
 | Boulder Hotels & Travel Boulder hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Boulder Mortgage Boulder property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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